Shaft straightening press



Dec. 7, 1943. w. ERNST SHAFT STRAIGHTENING PRESS Filed 001:. 28, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 4 warren E rms'r,

i W ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1943.

' w. ERNST SHAFT STRAIGHTENING PRESS Filed Oct. 28, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WALTER ERNST,

' ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1943.

w. ERNST 2,336,349

SHAFT STRAIGHTENING PRESS Filed Oct. 28', 1942 5 Sheet-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WALTER ERNS (n -m A'ITORNEYS Dec. 7, 1943. w. ERNST 2,335,349

SHAFT STRAIGHTENING PRESS FiledOct. 28, 1942 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ENTQR WALTER ERNST BYO ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 7, 1943 SHAFT STRAIGHTENING PRESS Walter Ernst, Mount Gilead, Ohio, assignor to The Hydraulic Development Corporation, Inc., Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application October 28, 1942, Serial No. 463,720

17 Claims.

This invention relates to presses and, in particular, to shaft straightening presses.

Such shaft straightening presses usually comprise a reciprocable straightening ram and a table carrying two or more roller pairs for supporting the shaft to be straightened while it is being checked as to the portion or portions to be straightened. The said table usually also carries two or more supporting blocks to which the shaft is transferred following the above mentioned checking operation, and which support the shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation.

Presses of this type, as heretofore'known, have the supporting means or stands for the rollers movable in horizontal direction but not in vertical direction, whereas the supporting blocks which hold the shaft to be straightened during the straightening operation are movable in horizontal as well as in vertical direction. The movement of the blocks in vertical direction is effected by the adjustment of wedges respectively associated with said blocks. Since, after each straightening step, the shaft has to be transferred from the blocks to the rollers for further checking, and in case a further straightening is required, has to be returned to the blocks, it is necessary, with the straightening presses as heretofore known to effect an adjustment of the wedges pertaining to the blocks after each checking operation and after each straightening step. It is obvious that such a manipulation is rather cumbersome and costly in time.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved shaft straightening press which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of the invention to provide a shaft straightening press, in which the rollers supporting the shaft to be straightened during the checking of the portions to be rectified are moved in vertical direction, whereas the blocks supporting the shaft during the straightening operation need normally not be moved in vertical direction.

Still another object of the invention consists in the provision of a shaft straightening press as set forth in the preceding paragraph, in which the rollers are movable in vertical direction by hydraulic means.

It is a further object to provide a shaft straightening press in which both the rollers and the blocks for supporting the shaft during the checking and straightening operations respectively are adjustable in vertical direction to allow checking and straightening of conical, stepped, or other irregularly shaped shafts, and in which the rollers are hydraulically movable in vertical direction.

It is a still further object to provide a shaft straightening press in which the rollers and the supporting blocks for supportin the shaft during the checking and straightening operations respectively are movable in vertical direction, and in which the blocks are hydraulically moved in vertical direction for transferring the shaft from the rollers to the blocks, whereas normally no vertical movement of the rollers is required.

Still another object of the invention consists in the provision of a shaft straightening press, including a hydraulic system for operating the straightenin ram, and for actuating means to transfer the shaft to be straightened from the rollers supporting the shaft during the checking operation to the blocks supporting the shaft during the straightening operation, while means is associated with the hydraulic'system to assure retraction of the ram when the checkin operation is being effected.

A still further object Of the invention consists in the provision of means which will prevent the shaft to be straightened from being lifted off the means normally supporting the shaft during the straightening operation, unless the straightening ram has been moved into a predetermined position.

It is still another object to provide a shaft straightening press in which,'in case the working stroke of the straightening or press ram is accidentally initiated prior to the transfer of the work piece to the means, normally supporting the work piece during the straightening operation, the initiation of the straightening or working stroke of the straightening or press ram will automatically initiate the transfer of the work piece to the means normally supporting the Work piece during the straightening operation.

These and other objects of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 7 a

Figure 1 is a front view of the pressaccording .to the invention,

Figure 2 is partially a section and partially a view along the line 2 2 of Figure 1. V v

Figure 3 is partially a section and partially a view along the line 33 of Figure 4. I

Figure 4 is a section along the line 44 of Figure 1. 1 1

Figure 5 is a section along the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 diagrammatically illustrates the control circuits for the press according to the invention.

Figures 7 and 8 show a slight modification over the arrangement of Figures 1 to 5.

cylinder 14 carrying a tank or fluid reservoir I5, 7

which is connected by means of a conduit [6 with a variable delivery pump IT. The pump I] may be of any conventional type, preferably of the type comprising servomotor means which, in response to a predetermined pressure in the pressure line I8, shifts automatically to substantially no delivery position.

The pressure line It leads to a four-way valve I9, which controls the supply of fluid to the press cylinder M. The valve it, which may be manually operable, is connected with the upper portion of the press cylinder [4 by means of a conduit 29, whereas the lower portion of the press cylinder I5 communicates with a conduit 2| leading to the four-way valve It. The conduit 2| comprises a check valve 22, which may be by-passed by means of a conduit 23 with a choke 24.

The valve shaft 25, pertaining to the valve I9, has connected thereto a linkage 26 which is operable by the hand lever 21, and which has also connected thereto a lever arm 28 adapted to be engaged by flanges or collars 29, 30, of a push rod 3!. The push rod 3| has adjustably mounted thereon a collar 32 and is guided in guiding means 33 connected to one of the strain rods I2. The collar 32 is adapted to be engaged by a sleeve 34 supported by the press platen 35 connected to or supported by the press ram 36.

If it is desired to bring the press ram during its retraction or upward stroke to a halt prior to the boss 37 (see Figure 6) being engaged by the ram 36, the collar 32 is so adjusted on the push rod 31 that the sleeve 34, at the end of its upward movement, engages the collar 32 and, by means of the latter, lifts the push rod 3| to such an extent that the lever arm 28 shifts the valve I9 into position for closing fluid connection between the conduit 29 and the conduit I8. Since, during the upward stroke of the press ram 36, the conduit 29 constitutes the exhaust line, it will be clear that closure of the exhaust line by the valve I9 will bring the ram to a halt.

Pressure will then build up in the pilot line 38 leading to the servomotor 39 so that the servomotor 39 shifts the pump I! to substantially neutral or no delivery position, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

If it is desired to bring the ram 35 to a stop only after the latter has engaged the boss 32', the push rod 3| may be made ineffective by either removing the collar 32 entirely from the rod 3|, or by raising the collar 32 to such an extent that it will not be engaged by the sleeve 34 during the upward or retraction stroke of the press ram.

The press platen 35 has connected thereto a punch 40 which, when subjected to hydraulic pressure and engaging the shaft to be straightened, will exert a straightening force on said shaft.

The conduit I8 is also connected with the tank I5 by means of a conduit 4| (Figure 6) having a safety or pressure relief valve 42 therein so that if, for some reason, an undue pressure should develop in the conduit I3, this undue pressure may be relieved into the tank [5 through the relief valve 32. It is, of course, understood that the relief valve G2 is set for a pressure higher than the pressure required for causing the servomotor 39 to shift the pump 51 into neutral or no delivery position. A conduit 43 connects the tank I5 with the four-Way valve I9.

Branching off from the conduit 25 is a conduit 44 comprising a. check valve 45 and leading to a predetermined point in the wall of the press cylinder 1-. It will be clear that, due to this arrangement, the ram 35 will move downwardly at a high speed from the position shown in Figure 6, until the piston portion 36 of the ram 36, during its downward movement, has moved beyond the connection of the press cylinder It with the conduit 44. This is due to the fact that during the first portion of the downward stroke of the ram 35, the fluid expelled by the piston portion 36' escapes through the check valve 45 and conduits it and 2| and, furthermore, through conduit 43 into the tank 15. However, as soon as the piston portion 35 has reached a position at which its upper surface is at a level lower than the inlet of the conduit 34 into the cylinder Hi, the fluid expelled from the lower portion of the press cylinder It has to flow through the choke 24, which may be adjusted according to the rate at which the last end of the downward stroke of the ram 35 is desired to be performed.

Connected with the lower portion of the press cylinder IA is a conduit 68 leading to a bellows switch of conventional structure, generally designated 49, which includes a bellows 5%) having connected thereto a rod 5! and a contact or terminal 52. The bellows houses a spring (not shown) which continuously urges the terminal or contact 52 away from the terminal or contact 53, while a predetermined pressure in conduit 38 is adapted to overcome the force of the said spring so as to bring the terminal 52 into engagement with the terminal 53, which latter is connected by line 54 with the main supply line 55.

The terminal 52 is connected by a line 56 with an electric motor 5.7. The electric motor 51 is furthermore connected with a line 58 adapted by closure of the switch 59 to be connected with the line 68 leading to the main supply line 6|. Also connected to the main supply line (it is a line 62 adapted, by closure of the switch 63, to be connected with the line 64 which, in its turn, is connected to the electric motor El.

The electric motor '5'? has connected to its shaft a sprocket wheel 65 which is drivingly connected by a sprocket chain 66 (Figures 1 and 2) with a sprocket wheel 6? which is keyed to a shaft 68. Also keyed to the shaft 63 is a pinion 69 meshing with a rack it, which latter is connected to the press bed ii in any convenient manner. The press bed '5! is preferably composed of a plurality of H-shaped members interconnected in any convenient manner. In this way, operation of the electric motor 511 is adapted to drive the pinion 59, thereby causing the carriage I2 to move along the bed H by means of its rollers I3 rolling on the rails I4. The rails I4 are rigidly connected to the press bed in any convenient manner.

Slight movements of the carriage may also be effected manually by means of the hand wheel I5, which is keyed to a shaft I6 having rigidly connected thereto a clutch member 11. The shaft I5, together with the clutch member 11, is slidably supported so as to be moved inwardly, thereby causing the clutch member 11 to engage a correspondingly shaped clutch member I8 which, in its turn, is drivingly connected to a sprocket wheel I9. The sprocket wheel 19 is drivingly connected by means of a sprocket chain 80 with a sprocket wheel 8! which is keyed to the shaft 68.

Also connected with the main supply line BI is a line 82 adapted, by closure of the switch 83, to be connected with a line 84, which comprises a solenoid I35 and leads to the line 56. The solenoid 85 controls an armature 86 which, in its turn, is connected to a valve member 81 of a four-way valve, generally designated 88 and having one port plugged so as to operate as a threeway valve. The valve 88 is of conventional design and causes interruption between the conduit 90 on one hand and the conduits 89 and 9| on the other hand when the solenoid 85 is deenergized. In this instance, the conduits 83 and SI communicate with each other.

A spring 92 continuously urges the valve member 81 into its lower position for establishing fluid connection between the conduits 33 and SI, whereas energization of the solenoid 85 causes the valve member 8'! to move into its upper position, thereby breaking the fluid connection between the conduits 89 and while establishing fluid connection between the conduits 89 and 90.

Connected with the conduit 09 are two conduits 93 and 94 which respectively communicate through bores 95 and 90 in plungers SI and 98 with cylinders 99 and I00. The cylinder-plunger arrangements 91, 09; 98, I00 serve respectively to actuate the supporting rollers IOI and I02. While only the structural details of the cylinder-plunger arrangement 9?, 99 are shown in Figures 3 and 4, it is understood that the cylinder-plunger arrangement 98, I00 is similarly constructed.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the cylinder 99 forms a part of a slide I03 which is reciprocably mounted between flanges I04 of a slide I05 which is slidable on the press bed II. To effect the sliding movement of the slide I05 relative to the press bed II, the slide I05 carries a shaft I06 with a square head I01 adapted to be engaged by a corresponding wrench. The other end of the shaft I06 has keyed thereto a pinion I08 which meshes with a rack I09 connected to the press bed I I.

The plunger 51, cooperating with the cylinder 99, is stationarily mounted on the slide I05, and the connection 93, 83 with the valve 88 is flexible. To limit the upward movement of the slide I03 relative to the slide I05, two bolts H0 are provided which are rigidly connected to the slide I05 and extend through bores in the slide I03 and have at their upper ends an abutment nut III and locking nut H2. The abutment nut II I, when engaging the slide I03, limits further upward movement thereof.

The slide I83 carries the two rollers I'5I which are keyed to shafts H3 rotatably mounted in bearings H4. Keyed to the shafts H3 are pinions H5 which mesh with a pinion H6. The pinion I I6 is rigidly connected to a sprocket wheel .I I! which, in its turn, is drivingly connected to a sprocket wheel II 8. The sprocket wheel H8 is keyed to a shaft H9 of a rotary fluid motor I20 which may be of any conventional design, and may be of the radial piston type or the radial vane type, if desired. Rotation of the motor I20 will cause rotation of the central pinion IIB meshing with the pinions H5, and thereby will cause the rollers IOI to rotate. While the rollers IOI are directly driven by a motor, namely the motor I 20, the rollers I02 have not connected therewith such a drive but are rotated by the shaft to be straightened. In other words, when the shaft to be straightened is supported by the rollers IIII, I02, rotation of the rollers IOI causes rotation of the shaft to be straightened and the latter, while rotating, also rotates the rollers I02.

The motor I20 is rigidly connected to a flange I2! forming a part of the slide I05. The motor I20 is connected by a conduit I22 with a valve I23, which is of the same type as the Valve 88. The valve I23 has a valve member I24 with an armature I25 controlled by a solenoid I26. The solenoid I26 is mounted in a line I21, having one end connected to the line 56, while the other end is adapted, by closure of the switch I28, to be connected with a line I29 leading to the line 82.

The valve member I24 is continuously urged downwardly by a spring I30 so as to establish fluid connection between the conduit I22 and the conduit I3I leading to the tank I32. Energization of the solenoid I26 causes the valve member I24 to move upwardly so as to interrupt fluid connection between the conduits I 22 and I3I, while establishing fluid connection between the conduits I22 and I33, which latter comprises an adjustable choke I34 and communicates with the conduit connected with the pressure side of the pump I35. The pump I35 may be of similar construction as the pump I1, and may also be provided with servomotor means I35 which, in response to a predetermined pressure in the conduit 90, shifts the pump I35 to substantially no delivery position. The suction side of the pump I35 is connected through conduit I36 with the tank I32.

The hydraulic motor I20 is furthermore connected through a conduit I31 with the conduit I3I. Mounted in the conduit 90 between the pump I35 and the valve 88 is a check valve I38 adapted to allow fluid to pass from the pump I35 to the valve 88, while preventing the flow of fluid in the reverse direction.

Also slidably mounted on the press bed II are a pair of slides, generally designated I33 and I40, with supporting blocks I4! and I42. Since both slides I39 and I40 fully correspond in structure, only one slide, namely the slide I40, is shown in detail in Figure 5.

The supporting block I42 vertically slidable in the slide I40 is adjustable by means of a wedge I43 and a spindle I44, threadedly engaging the wedge I43. The ends of the spindle I44 are journalled in the slide I40. One end of the spindle I44 has keyed thereto a hand wheel I45 for r0- tating the spindle, while longitudinal movement of the spindle I44 in the slide I40 is prevented by the hub I45 of the hand wheel I45 and the collar I47 keyed to the spindle I44.

To hold the supporting block I42 and wedge I43 in proper alignment, the supporting block I42 is provided with a ridge or ledge I48 engaging a correspondingly shaped groove I49 in the wedge I43. The supporting block MI is similarly adjustable by means of the hand wheel I50.

The slides I39 and I40 are movable on the bed II by simply pushing against the slides I39, I40. If desired, locking means of any conventional design may be provided for locking the slides I39, I40 on their proper places, although this is actually not necessary, since these slides are properly held in their respective places by the pressure exerted by the press ram 39.

Operation It may be assumed that the valve I9 (Figures 2 and 6) is shifted into such a position that the pressure line I3 is connected with the line 2I, while the conduit 20 is connected with the conduit 43. In this position, the fluid pressure conveyed through the conduit 2i beneath the piston portion 30 holds the ram 96 in its desired upper position.

It may furthermore be assumed that the cylinders 99 and I00, forming a part of the slides carrying the rollers IOI, I02, are in their lowermost position, at which the effective supporting surfaces of the rollers IOI, I02 are at a lower level than the effective supporting surfaces of the supporting blocks I4I, I42. I

If it is now desired to straighten a shaft on the press according to the invention, the operator first moves the slides I39, I40 toward or away from each other so that the distance between the slides will be somewhat shorter than the length of the shaft to be straightened. Thereupon, the operator moves the rollers IOI, I02 into the neighborhood of the slides I39, I40 by rotating the shafts I09 and I06 respectively pertaining to the slides I and I05. When the rollers IOI and I02 have been so positioned that they will be able, when lifted, to support the shaft to be straightened, the shaft to be straightened is placed on the blocks I4I, I42. By rotation of the handwheels I05, I50, the blocks I42, I4I are so adjusted that the longitudinal axis of the shaft to be straightened is horizontal.

The operator now closes the switch 83, thereby establishing a circuit comprising the main supply line BI, lines 82 and 84, solenoid 85, line 59, terminals 52, 53, which at this time engage each other, line 54 and main supply line 55. As a result thereof, the solenoid 85 is energized and moves the valve member 8'! upwardly so as to break fluid connection between the conduits 09 and 9I, while establishing fluid connection between the conduits 90 and 89. Therefore, pressure fluid from the pump I35 passes through the conduits 90, 89, 93 and 94 into the cylinders 99 and I00, thereby lifting these cylinders and, consequently also the slides respectively carrying the rollers IOI and I02.

When, during the upward stroke of the cylinders 99, I00, the nuts III engage the bottom of the slides carrying the rollers IOI, I02, the cylinders 99 and I00 come to a stop. At this time, the effective supporting surfaces of the rollers are higher than the effective supporting surfaces of the supporting blocks I4I, I42, so that the rollers have lifted the shaft to be straightened off the supporting blocks and now support the said shaft. If the longitudinal axis of the shaft should not be horizontal, it is merely necessary to effect an adjustment of the nuts III to bring about movement of the shaft into the desired position.

When the shaft to be straightened is properly supported by the rollers IOI, I02, the operator closes the switch I28, thereby closing a circuit comprising the main supply line 6 I, line I29, solenoid I29, line, I21, lines 56. and 54 and the main supply line 55. As a result thereof, the solenoid I26 is energized and moves the valve member I24 into position for breaking fluid connection between the conduits I22 and I3I, While estab: lishing fluid connection between the conduits I22 and I33. Pressure fluid from the pump I35 now passes through conduits I33 and I22 into the fluid motor I20, which latter rotates the pinions H6 and H5, and, thereby, the rollers WI. The rollers IOI in their turn rotate the shaft to be straightened and the rollers I02.

The speed of rotation of the motor I20 and thereby the rollers supporting the shaft to be straightened, is controlled by the setting of the choke I34. While the shaft is now rotating, the operator, by means of any standard measuring gauges commonly used for detecting bends in a shaft, determines the portion or portions of the shaft to be straightened and marks the same accordingly.

After this step has been performed and when the shaft to be straightened has been moved by the rollers into the desired position, the rotation of the rollers and thereby of the shaft is stopped by stopping the motor I20. This is effected by opening the switch I28 so that the solenoid I26 becomes deenergized and the spring I30 moves the valve member I24 for breaking fluid connection between the conduits I 22 and I33, while establishing fluid connection between the conduits I22 and I3I. Thereupon, the operator opens the switch 83, thereby deenergizing the solenoid and causing the spring 92 to move the valve member 8'! downwardly so as to break fluid connection between the conduits 89 and 90, while establishing fluid connection between the conduits 89 and 9|.

While the pump I35 will now move to its neutral or no delivery position, the weight of the shaft to be straightened causes the cylinders 99 and I00 to move downwardly. If desired, a choke, indicated in dot-dash lines and designated I5I, may be provided in the conduit 9I for controlling 1 the downward speed of the cylinders 99 and I00.

The fluid expelled from the cylinders 99 and I00 during the downward movement of the rollers HH and I02 passes through the bores 95 and 95 and the conduits 8,9 and 9| into the tank I32. When the rollers IOI and I02, during their downward movement, reach a position at which the effective supporting surfaces of the rollers are level with the effective supporting surfaces of the blocks I4I, I42, the shaft to be straightened will automatically be transferred tothese blocks and will then be solely supported by the latter. The cylinders 99 and I00 then move further downwardly by their own weight until the bottom of the slides, carrying the rollers, engages the bottom of the slides I05, I05.

The operator now closes one of the switches 59 or 63, according to the desired direction of rotation of the electric motor 51. When the motor 51 thus rotates, also the sprocket wheels 65 and 9'! will rotate in a corresponding direction and thereby cause the pinion 09, meshin with the rack 10, to mov the carriage I2 and, consequently, also the press cylinder I4 carried thereby along the bed II, in a corresponding direction. When the carriage 72 has reached such a position that the straightening punch 40 occupies a position in alignment with the portion to be straightened, the motor 51 is brought to a stop by opening the respective switch 59 or 63, which has previously closed for energizing the motor '1. All parts now occupy the position required for the actual straightening operation.

To carry out the straightening operation proper, the operator, by actuating the hand lever 21, moves the valve l9 into such a position that fluid connection is established between the conduits l8 and 20, while the conduit 2! is hydraulically connected to the conduit 53. As a result thereof, pressure fluid from the pump I! passes through conduits l8 and 20 into the upper portion of the press cylinder M where it acts upon the ram 36 and moves the same downwardly, while the fluid expelled from the lower portion of the press cylinder M during this downward movement escapes through the check valv 135, conduits 4 3 and 43 into the tank 55. In this way, the ram 35 will perform a fast downward movement during the first portion of its downward stroke.

As soon as the piston portion 36' has closed the port 47, no more fluid can escape through the check valve 45, and all fluid expelled from the lower portion of the Cylinder [4 now has to pass through the choke 2 3. According to the adjustment of the choke 24, the last portion of the downward stroke of th ram 36 will be effected at a more or less reduced speed. The downward movement of the ram 35 and the platen 35 with the punch 49 connected thereto causes the latter to exert a straightening force on the shaft to be straightened.

When the operator considers the stroke of the ram 35 to be sufiicient so as to have performed the desired straightening effect, the valve i9 is reversed so that fluid connection is established between the conduits i8 and 2|, while simultaneously the conduit 29 is connected with the conduit 43. As a result thereof, fluid delivered by the pump 11 passes through conduit 2! and check valve 22 into the lower portion of the press cylinder l4 and moves the ram 33 upwardly, while the fluid expelled from the upper portion of the cylinder l4 escapes through conduits 2i] and 43 into the tank l5. The valve 88 may then, by energization of the solenoid 85, again be shifted into position for admitting pressure fluid to the cylinders 99 and I09 so that the rollers NH and I02 again move upwardly. When, during this upward movement of the rollers it! and I02, the effective supporting surfaces thereof reach the level of the respective supporting surfaces of th supporting blocks Ml, I42, they take over the shaft to be straightened and, during further upward movement of the rollers, lift the said shaft off the supporting blocks l4! and The operator then checks the effect of the last mentioned straightening operation and, if desired, may repeat the straightening operation in the manner described above, or proceed to straighten another portion of the shaft.

When the ram 36 has been fully retracted so as to engage the boss 3'5, the ram 35 stops and when a predetermined pressure has developed in the lower part of the press cylinder is, this pressure conveyed through conduit l8 to the servomotor 39 causes the latter to shift the pump I! to substantially neutral or no delivery position.

Th contact or terminal 52, which is adjustably mounted on the rod 5i, is so adjusted that when the ram 36 has reached its desired retracted position, the terminal 52 engages the terminal 53, thereby electrically interconnecting the lines 54-and 56.

In the description of the operation as set forth above, it was assumed that the ram 36 returns to its uppermost position, as shown in Figure 6. In this instance, the push rod 3! i made ineffective by adjusting the collar 32 so that it will not be engaged by the sleeve 34 (Figure 2). However, if it is desired not to fully retract the ram 36 during its upward movement, the collar 32 is so adjusted that, at a desired point of travel of the retraction stroke of the ram 36, the collar 32 will b engaged by the sleeve 34, thereby lifting the push rod 3| and causing the latter, by means of the lever arm 28, to shift the valve (9 to an intermediate or neutral position in which the flow of fluid to and from the cylinder I4 is blocked. This causes the ram 35 to stop during its upward movement at a desired point prior to the engagement of the boss 3'! by the piston portion 36'. It is, of course, understood that the terminal 52 will, in this instance, likewise be adjusted so that when the ram 36, at the end of its upward movement, comes to a standstill, the contact 52 again engages the contact 53.

The adjustment of the contact 52 in such a manner that the latter engages the contact 53 at the end of the retraction stroke of the ram 36 constitutes a safeguard against accidental premature lifting of the work piece by the rollers 3!, m2 from the supporting blocks MI, M2 before the ram 36 has been retracted to a desired position.

It will be clear that the valve member 87 cannot be shifted into position for lifting the cylinders S9 and sec, and thereby the rollers ltll, M32, as long as the electric connection between the lines 56 and 53 is interrupted, due to the spacing between the contacts 52 and 53. On the other hand, as mentioned above, these contacts will engage each other only when the ram 36 has been returned to its desired retracted position.

It will furthermore be noted that if it should accidentally be forgotten to open the switch 83 for lowering the cylinders 99 and Hill and thereby the rollers it! and IE2, while the valve 19 has been shifted for downward movement of the ram 36, the energizing circuit for the solenoid 85 will automatically be broken. This is due to the fact that the shifting of the valve 19 into downward position of the ram 36, establishes fluid connection between the lower portion of the cylinder l4 and the tank [5, and that, due to this pressure drop in the cylinder Hi, the spring in the bellows switch t!) causes disengagement of the contacts 52 and 53. Consequently, even if the downward movement of the ram 36 should be" started before the operator has opened the switch 83, the work piece will automatically be trans* M2 to the supporting ferred from therolle'rs llll, blocks MIQIGZ.

While thus far the rollers Nil, Hi2 have been described as hydraulically movable in vertical"v stance, the hydraulic system of Figure 6 will beexactly the same, and the only difference will consist in that the cylinders 99 and I00, instead of carrying and actuating the rollers It'll and I 92, will carry and actuate the blocks MI, 142. Figure '7 shows the block of Figure carried by the cylinder 99, whereas Figure 3 shows the rollers HM adjustable mechanically.

With such an arrangement, the effective supporting surfaces of the rollers will normally be at a level higher than the effective supporting surfaces of the supporting blocks and, when the checking operation has been effected, pressure fluid supplied to the cylinders 99 and its will lift the blocks so that they take over the shaft to be straightened from the rollers into the desired height.

To hold the shaft at the desired height, the valve 88 would beshifted into an intermediate or neutral position, in which any flowof fluid therethrough is blocked, so that the fluid in the cylinders 99 and we is completely entrapped. In all other respects, this arrangement will correspond to the arrangement described above in detail.

If the straightening press is to be used mostly for straightening a specific type of shafts, for instance, shafts of equal diameter only, or shafts of the same taper, no adjustment of the supporting blocks is necessary, so that the adjusting means shown in Figure- 5 in detail for the adjusting of the supporting blocks may be omitted. The supporting blocks may then be arranged so that they can be replaced by other supporting blocks. Similarly, if the supporting blocks are hydraulically moved in vertical direction, the mechanical adjusting means for the roller may be omitted when the press is used mostly for straightening one and the same type of shafts.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, first supporting means on said bed for receiving and supporting a shaft to be straightened prior to the actual straightening operation, second supporting means mounted on said bed for supporting said shaft during the actual straightening operation, fiuid operable means for selectively transferring said shaft from said first supporting means to said second supporting means or vice versa, valve means hydraulically connected with said fluid operable means for controlling the fiow of fluid to and from said fluid operable means, electric control means for controlling said valve means, a press ram for exerting straightening pressure onsaid shaft while it is being supported by said second supporting means, said press ram having associated therewith fluid operable advancing and retracting means for reciprocating said ram, and electric switch means operatively connected with said retracting means for controlling said electric control means.

2. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, a plurality of spaced first supporting units moimted on said bed for supporting a shaft to be straightened prior to the actual straightening operation and for allowing checking of the shaft portion or portions to be straightened, a plurality of spaced second supporting units mounted on said bed for supporting said shaft during the actual straightening operation, fluid operable means for selectively transferring said shaft from said first supporting units to said second supporting units or vice versa, first adjusting means associated with said first units for individually varying the maximum stroke thereof, second adjusting means associated with said second units and operable individually for adjusting the respective second units, and means for exerting straightening pressure on said shaft while it is being supported by said second supporting units.

3. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, a plurality of spaced first supporting units on said bed for supporting a shaft and allowing checking thereof as to its contour, a plurality of spaced second supporting units on said bed for supporting a shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, mean associated with said first supporting units and operable to move said first supporting units relative to each other, means associated with said second supporting units for moving the same relative to each other, fluid operable means for selectively transferring aid shaft from said first supporting units to said second supporting units or vice versa, and means for exerting straightening pressure on said shaft while it is being supported by said second supporting units.

4. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, spaced pairs of rollers, on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checkin of said shaft as to its contour, supporting means mounted on said bed for supporting the shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, the eifective supporting surfaces of said supporting means being normally at a higher level than the effective supporting surfaces of said roller pairs, fluid operable means for actuating said roller pairs so as selectively to lift the effective supporting surfaces thereof to a level higher than the level of said supporting means for transferring said shaft from said supporting means to said roller pairs, or to allow movement of the effective supporting surfaces of the said roller pairs to a level lower than the effective supporting surfaces of said supporting means for transferring the shaft to be straightened from said roller pairs to said supporting means, fluid flow restricting means associated with said fluid operable means and operable to vary the rate of transfer of the shaft to be straightened from said roller pairs to said supporting means, and means for exerting straightening pressure on the shaft to be straightened when the latter is being supported by said supporting means.

5. In a shaft strai htening press, a bed, first supporting means on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checking thereof as to its contour, secondsupportingmeans mounted on said bed for supporting the shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, fluid operable means for selectively transferring said shaft from said first supporting means to said second supporting means or vice versa, hydraulic motor mean including a reciprocable straightening punch operable to exert straightening pressure on the shaft to be straightened while it is being supported by said second supporting means, and means associated with said motor means and operable automatically in response to the initiation of a working stroke of said straightening punch to cause transfer of the shaft to be straightened from said first supporting means to said second supporting means if said transfer had not been effected prior to said initiation of said working troke.

6. In a shaft straighteningpress, a bed, spaced roller units on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checking of said shaft as to its contour, fluid operable motor means associated with at least one of said roller units for rotating said shaft when it is being supported by said roller units, spaced individually adjustable supporting means for supporting the shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, a fluid operable cylinder-piston-assembly associated with each of said roller units and operable selectively to lower the shaft to be straightened from said roller units upon said supporting means, or to cause said roller units to pick up said shaft from said supporting means, adjusting means associated with each of said roller units for individually adjusting' and limiting the maximum stroke of each roller unit, to thereby accommodate shafts of irregular shape, and means for exerting straightening pressure on said shaft while it is being supported by said supporting means.

'7. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, spaced roller means on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checking of said shaft as to its contour, fluid operable motor means associated with at least some of said roller means for rotating said shaft when it is being supported by said roller means, spaced supporting members for supporting th shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, a fluid operable cylinder-piston-assembly associated. with said supporting members and operable selectively to pick up the shaft to be straightened from said roller means or to lower said shaft from said supporting members upon said roller means, and means for exerting straightening pressure on the shaft to be straightened while it is being supported by said supporting members.

8. In a shaft straightenim press, a bed, spaced roller means on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checking of said shaft as to its contour, fluid operable motor means associated with at least some of said roller means for rotating said shaft when it i being suppor ed by said roller means, spaced supporting means for supporting the shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, a fluid operable cylinder-piston-assembly associated with said roller means and operable selectively to lower the shaft to be straightened from said roller means upon said supporting means, or to cause said roller means to pick up said shaft from said supporting means, straightening means, movable to exert straightening pressure on the shaft to be straightened while it is being supported by said supporting means, and means for preventing said roller means for picking up said shaft from said supporting means prior to the movement of said straightening means into a predetermined position.

9. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, spaced roller means on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checking of said shaft as to its contour, spaced supporting members for supporting the shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, a fluid operable cylinder-piston-assembly associated with said roller means and operable selectively to transfer said shaft from said roller means to said supporting members or vice versa, fluid operable straightening means for exerting straightening pressure on said shaft while it is being supported by said supporting members, motor 10. In a shaft straightening press, a bed,-

spaced roller means on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checking thereof as to its contour, spaced supporting members for supporting the shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, a fluid operable cylinder-piston-assembly asso ciated with said roller means for selectively transferring said shaft from said roller means to said supporting members or vice versa, fluid operable straightening means for exerting straightening pressure on said shaft while it is being supported by said supporting members, fluid operable motor means associated with said roller means for rotating said roller means, a first fluid source for supplying pressure fluid to said cylinder-piston-assembly and said fluid operable motor means, and a separate fluid source for supplying pressure fluid to said fluid operable straightening means to actuate the same.

11. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, spaced roller means on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checlnng thereof as to its contour, each of said roller means having associated therewith a fluid operable cylinder-piston-assembly for substantially vertically moving said roller means, adjusting means associated with each of said roller means.

for varying the maximum stroke of the respective roller means, spaced supporting means for supporting said shaft during the actual straightening operation, said cylinder-piston-assemblies being adapted to move said roller means relative to said supporting means for selectively transferring a shaft to be straightened from said roller means to said supporting means or vice versa, and straightening means operable to exert straightening pressure on said shaft while it is being supported by said supporting means.

12. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, spaced roller means on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checking thereof as to its contour, actuating means for moving said roller means in substantially vertical direction, a plurality of spaced supporting members for supporting a shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, each of said supporting member having associated therewith adjusting means for substantially vertically adjusting said supporting members, means associated with said roller means for varying the maximum stroke thereof, fluid operable means for exerting relative movement of said roller means and said supporting members to transfer a shaft to be straightened from said roller means to said supporting members or vice versa, and straightening means operable to exert straightening pressure on said shaft while it is being supported by said supporting members.

13. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, spaced roller means on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checking thereof as to its contour, a plurality of spaced supporting members for supporting a shaft to be straightened during the actual straightening operation, each of said roller means having associated therewith a fluid o erable cylinder-pistonassembly for substantially vertically moving said each of said roller means for Varying the maximum stroke thereof, said cylinder-piston-assemblies being adapted to lift the effective supporting surfaces of said roller means to a level higher than the level of the effective supporting surfaces of said supporting members, and means for exerting straightening pressure on the shaft to be straightened While the latter is being supported by said supporting members.

14-. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, first supporting means on said bed for receiving a shaft to be straightened and allowing checking thereof as to its contour, second supporting means mounted on said bed for supporting said shaft during the actual straightening operation, fluid operable means for moving said supporting means in substantially vertical direction relative to each other for selectively transferring the shaft to be straightened from said first supporting means to said second supporting means or vice versa, a press ram having associated therewith fiuid operable advancing and retracting means for reciprocating said ram and causing the same selectively to exert straightening pressure on the shaft to be straightened while it is being supported by said last mentioned supporting means, and means associated with said reracting means and operable, in response to a predetermined low pressure acting on said retracting means, automatically to bring about transfer of the shaft to be straightened from said first supporting means to said second supporting means.

15. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, first supporting means on said bed for receiving and supporting a shaft to be straightened prior to the actual straightening operation, second supporting means mounted on said bed for supporting said shaft during the actual straightening operation, fluid operable mean for selectively transferring said shaft from said first supporting means to said second supporting means or vice versa,

roller means, adjusting means associated with straightening means for exerting straightening pressure on said shaft While it is being supported by said second supporting means, and means preventing said shaft from being transferred from said second supporting means to said first supporting means prior to the movement of said straightening means into a predetermined position.

16. In a shaft straightening press, a bed, first supporting means on aid bed for receiving and supporting a shaft to be straightened prior to the actual straightening operation, second supporting means mounted on said bed for supporting said shaft during the actual straightening operation, fluid operable means for selectively transferring said shaft from said first supporting means to said second supporting means or vice versa, straightening means for exerting straightening pressure on said shaft while it is supported by said second supporting means, and means responsive to the initiation of a straightening stroke of said straightening means for automatically transferring the shaft to be straightened from said first supporting means to said second supporting means.

1'7. In. a shaft straightening press, a bed, roller means on said bed for receiving and supporting a shaft to be straightened prior to the actual straightening operation, supporting means mounted on said bed for supporting said shaft during the actual straightening operation, fluid operable means for selectively transferring said shaft from said roller means to said supporting means or vice versa, fluid operable motor means for rotating said roller means, means hydraulically connected with said motor means and operable to control the speed of said fluid operable motor means and thereby also the speed of rotation of said roller means, and means for exerting straightening pressure on said shaft while it i being supported by said supporting means.

VVALTE'R ERNST. 

